Legal News 12/2010

California Attorney General-elect Kamala Harris will focus on reducing the state's dismal inmate recidivism rate and on prosecuting environmental and white-collar crimes when she takes over as the state's top law...(Dec 1, 2010)

Tulsa City Council to vote on ousting Interim City Attorney

The City Council plans to take a vote of no confidence and demand of resignation Thursday against Interim City Attorney David Pauling, who will have finished his second day on the job.(Dec 1, 2010)

A disbarred lawyer who skipped town on the eve of his theft and forgery trial has been arrested in Phoenix on an unlawful flight warrant.(Dec 1, 2010)

Vermont attorney general investigates Halifax Selectboard meeting

The Vermont Attorney General's Office is investigating a complaint that the Halifax Selectboard allegedly violated Vermont's open meeting law by holding a work session that was not publicly posted and at which financial decisions were made.(Dec 1, 2010)

Attorney General to look at fatal use of stun gun

JACKSON - The state attorney general's office is set to review evidence and decide whether to prosecute the case of a Cleveland man who died after being jolted twice by police stun guns, officials said Monday.(Dec 1, 2010)

Lawyer: Assange is being persecuted in Sweden

The lawyer for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says that the decision to add the 39-year-old Australian to Interpol's most wanted list shows that his client is being persecuted.(Dec 1, 2010)

Attorney: No deal in place to sell share of Chargers to LA group

An attorney for the San Diego Chargers denied a report by a Toronto radio station that billionaire Philip Anschutz will buy 35 percent of Southern California's only NFL team.(Dec 1, 2010)

Huge Picasso cache not stolen, lawyer says

A retired French electrician who revealed that he has 271 previously unknown works by artist Pablo Picasso did not steal them, his lawyer told CNN Tuesday.(Dec 1, 2010)

A lawyer with offices in Morristown and Elizabeth has temporarily been suspended by the state Supreme Court while an investigation into his suspected theft of at least $276,040 in client funds is under way.(Dec 1, 2010)

Morristown municipal attorney Vijayant Pawar is a full-time employee, exempt from an ordinance that requires contractors doing business with the town to disclose certain political contributions, a judge ruled today.(Dec 1, 2010)

Vermont attorney general investigates Halifax Selectboard meeting

The Vermont Attorney General's Office is investigating a complaint that the Halifax Selectboard allegedly violated Vermont's open meeting law by holding a work session that was not publicly posted and at which financial decisions were made.(Dec 1, 2010)

Lawyer: Assange is being persecuted

LONDON - Julian Assange's lawyer charged Wednesday that the Wikileaks founder is being persecuted by Swedish authorities who have accused him of rape and other sex crimes in a case that prompted Interpol to place him on its most-wanted list.(Dec 1, 2010)

Ocoee attorney disbarred by Florida Bar

Ocoee attorney Gregory Meeks has been disbarred by the Florida Bar for practicing law while suspended.(Dec 1, 2010)

Lawyer: Assange is being persecuted in Sweden

The lawyer for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange charged Wednesday that his client is being persecuted by Swedish authorities whose accusations of sex crimes have prompted an Interpol alert for his arrest.(Dec 1, 2010)

Lawyer: Case Against Assange Is Persecution, Not Prosecution

LONDON (AP) — Police ratcheted up the pressure on Wikileaks founder Julian Assange on Wednesday, asking European officers to arrest him on rape charges as his organization continued to embarass the Obama adminstration with a stream of leaked diplomatic cables.(Dec 1, 2010)

Indiana attorney general wants forfeiture law changed

Attorney General Greg Zoeller said that the law should set flat percentages for law enforcement agencies, county prosecutors and a state fund for public schools.(Dec 1, 2010)

Interpol notice may be linked to US WikiLeaks anger: lawyer

The British lawyer for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said on Wednesday that Interpol's pursuit of his client could be linked to the "bellicose" US reaction to the recent release of secret diplomatic cables.(Dec 1, 2010)

Attorney Stuart Leeds resigns from county ethics commission

Attorney Stuart Leeds resigned today from the El Paso County Ethics Commission, saying its attempts to be a fair and independent body were "doomed" by politics.(Dec 1, 2010)

The lawyer for the police officer who fatally shot an Easton college student in a New York City suburb in October said the 20-year-old was a "threat" to both the officer and others in the moments before the shooting.(Dec 1, 2010)

Watson case dealth with in Qld: lawyer

Gabe Watson's lawyer accuses the Alabama attorney-general of acting like a 'lynch mob' in pursuing murder charges when his case has been dealt with.(Dec 1, 2010)

Thomas Wellinger, a top UGS executive, rear-ended a Honda sedan, killing Judith Weinstein and her two young sons. Wellinger later pleaded no contest to second-degree murder charges and is serving a 19- to 30-year prison sentence for the accident.(Dec 1, 2010)

Alleged murder plot was jailhouse talk, attorney says

The attorney for a Raleigh man accused in a murder-for-hire plot told a judge Wednesday it was all jailhouse talk.(Dec 1, 2010)

Clinton aide, Microsoft lawyer urge long-term fix

A former aide to President Bill Clinton and the top lawyer for Microsoft urge President Barack Obama to take long-term action to jump-start the economy.(Dec 1, 2010)

Assange is being perscuted: lawyer

The British lawyer for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says that Interpol's pursuit of his client could be linked to the US cable leaks.(Dec 1, 2010)

The British lawyer for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says that Interpol's pursuit of his client could be linked to the US cable leaks.(Dec 1, 2010)

Fired County Attorney Fights For Job

Former Floyd County Attorney Jesse Marzen has appealed to the Iowa Supreme Court to get his job back.(Dec 1, 2010)

Lawyer: Sweden is persecuting WikiLeaks founder

The lawyer for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange charged today that his client is being persecuted by Swedish authorities whose accusations of sex crimes have prompted an Interpol alert for his arrest.(Dec 1, 2010)

Thomas Wellinger, a top UGS executive, rear-ended a Honda sedan, killing Judith Weinstein and her two young sons. Wellinger later pleaded no contest to second-degree murder charges and is serving a 19- to 30-year prison sentence for the accident.(Dec 1, 2010)

B.C. attorney-general Mike de Jong joins Liberal leadership race

Solicitor-general Rich Coleman rules himnself out(Dec 1, 2010)

Lawyer Cleared Of Extortion In Smurfs Case

A lawyer accused of helping the media mogul behind America's children's cartoon THE SMURFS extort his son-in-law for $11 million (7.3 million) has been acquitted of grand...(Dec 1, 2010)

Lawyer slams 'persecution' as Interpol hunts WikiLeaks chief

The lawyer of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said Wednesday his client was being persecuted for publishing embarrassing US diplomatic cables as Interpol called for his arrest over rape accusations.(Dec 1, 2010)

The lawyer for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has refused to give the whereabouts of the 39-year-old Aust.(Dec 1, 2010)

Assange is being persecuted - lawyer

The lawyer for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has refused to give the whereabouts of the 39-year-old Aust.(Dec 1, 2010)

Earnest attorney lays groundwork for appeal

Wesley Earnest's attorney files a letter with the court presenting testimony the jurors who convicted his client of murder were not allowed to hear.(Dec 1, 2010)

Fleeced by a lawyer? Govt mulls watchdog

New Delhi, Dec. 1: If your lawyer has overcharged or sexually harassed you or played truant in court, help may be at hand in future.(Dec 1, 2010)

Attorney to investigate claims of District 15 minutes tampering

A third party will decide whether any improper action was taken regarding accusations Palatine Township Elementary District 15 school board President Gerald Chapman tampered with meeting minutes.(Dec 1, 2010)

Attorney withdraws from sexual assault case

An attorney representing a Fallon man accused of sexual assault and domestic violence filed a motion to terminate his services on Tuesday in District Court.(Dec 1, 2010)

Assange is being persecuted: lawyer

THE British lawyer for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange claims Interpol's pursuit of his client is linked to reaction to the release of diplomatic cables.(Dec 1, 2010)

Lawyer slams 'persecution'

LONDON - THE lawyer of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said on Wednesday his client was being persecuted for publishing embarrassing US diplomatic cables as Interpol called for his arrest over rape accusations. As Washington tried to calm new outbursts of anger from world leaders over the leaks, France-based Interpol said it had alerted all member states to arrest Assange, who is wanted in ...(Dec 1, 2010)

Attorney Explores Mental Health Of Accused Grandma

The attorney for a woman accused of throwing her granddaughter several stories from an elevated walkway outside a northern Virginia mall says her client has a history of mental illness.(Dec 1, 2010)

Attorney general says local transit officials cannot serve on state bullet train board

The state attorney general has concluded that the mayor of Anaheim and members of Los Angeles County and Orange County transportation boards may not serve simultaneously on California’s High-Speed Rail Authority board. The formal opinion, issued Wednesday, was prompted by...(Dec 1, 2010)

In an effort to expedite the process of securing missing documentation needed to piece together the $750,000 discrepancy in a teacher’s union health insurance benefit fund, Lewiston-Porter Teacher’s Union President Kevin Jaruszewski said the union has hired an outside attorney to provide guidance and oversight into the process.(Dec 2, 2010)

Cranston lawyer to be disbarred

Lisa M. Butti agrees to give up her practice after several ethics complaints(Dec 2, 2010)

Arlington Commonwealth's Attorney Richard E. Trodden to retire

Arlington County Commonwealth's Attorney Richard E. Trodden, who during his 17-year tenure prosecuted such high-profile cases as the sodomy trial of sportscaster Marv Albert, will retire at the end of his term next year, he said Wednesday.(Dec 2, 2010)

MADAME ATTORNEY GENERAL KAMALA HARRIS, WEEK OF DECEMBER 2-8, 2010

(NNPA) After a long-fought and bruising battle to be the state's top law enforcement official, Kamala Harris has prevailed to become the next attorney general of California. She will be the first woman and the first African American to be elected to statewide office in more than three decades.(Dec 2, 2010)